Centre set to push key bills in session

The Centre is all set to introduce the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) and Consumer Protections Bill in the Winter Session of Parliament, which is commencing from Monday next week.

The BIS Amendment Bill is aimed to give a major fillip to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for a “Make in India” campaign.

Ahead of introducing the bill in Parliament, Union minister for food and consumer affairs Ram Vilas Paswan has called a meeting of all state ministers on Monday to apprise them of the steps being taken to unveil the higher quality standard and mechanism to be put in place.

The two bills are likely to come up before the Union Cabinet for its final approval, as all necessary formalities, including vetting by the Union law ministry has been done, sources said.

The BIS law seeks to put in place the National Standards Body, which will monitor quality of the goods, their manufacturing yardsticks.

Even a number of services will be part of the new mechanism, which will come in force after the bill is passed by Parliament. “We have got very positive response from the industry and other stakeholders on the amendments being moved in the legislative proposal.

“We seek to put in place a robust system of quality standardisation and effective ways to protect the interests of the consumers,” said a senior official in the ministry.

The draft bill proposes that any organisation which contravenes any provision of the act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to one year, or a fine which may extend up to `5 lakh, or with both. The proposed National Standards Body to be set up will have powers to take action against unrecognised laboratories and hallmarking centres.

While currently a mere 108 products are covered under Bureau of Indian Standards label, about 19,000 of them will come under the ambit of the BIS standardisation once the law comes in force.

Besides, the goods imported will also come under the ambit of the BIS standards.

Similarly, amendments to the Consumer Protection Act seek to protect consumer rights by simplifying judicial process to ensure speedy and inexpensive justice.

The amended act will also cover the popular e-commerce platform as well.



Source : The Asian Age , 21st Nov 2014